Music stand utility case



May 27, 1952 P. J. BOLLETTIERI MUSIC STAND UTILITY CASE Filed April 20, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l I! M III "III IN VEN TOR.

y 1952 P. J. BOLLETTIERI 2,597,970

MUSIC STAND UTILITY CASE Filed April 20, 1949 2 Sl-lEETS-SHEET 2 3 3 I E 3! I 1 I g] I A o I I E l' W H""' Hill 2| H J LU El My k IN V EN TOR.

Affornsy,

Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I MU SIC STAND UTILITY CASE Patrick J. Bollettieri, Pelham, N. Y.

Application April 20, 1949, Serial No. 88,517

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to collapsible and easily portable stands for sheet music and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved music stand upon which musicians may dispose the sheet music used by them while playing their instruments, the stand furnishing substantial support therefor and casting adequate illumination upon the music.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved music stand for use by musicians, which includes a stable support for a sheet music platform integral therewith, and which is foldable to a small compact siZe when not in use, having the general externa1 appearance of an article of luggage, for being carried conveniently by the musician when traveling, and

for easy storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved music stand the parts of which are extensible to provide stable support for sheet music and the like, with good illumination thereof, and in which the several parts are so constructed and arranged as to be instantly retractable inside the main housing thus converting the same to an article of luggage having compartment means therein to receive miscellaneous articles used by the musician including small instruments and instrument parts, sheet music, and articles of clothing for use when traveling.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved article of luggage, portions of which are pivotally secured together in such fashion that they may be opened out to form a music stand of novel construction and arrangement, and having an integral podium member arranged therein for support of sheet music when in extended position, the podium member being disposed in the combination according to a novel construction, so as to be automatically retracted inside the main housing and releasably lockable in said retracted position, to minimize interference of said podium member with use of the interior space for luggage purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convertible music stand and luggage case including novel means thereupon for the display of identifying insignia relating to the name of the orchestra, the musical production being presented, or, as desired, indicia of an ornamental nature, with easy means for changing said insignia or indicia.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved convertible music stand and luggage article, which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, quite convenient for the use of the musician, and readily opened out for use, and handy and compact for travel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which,

Figure l is a side elevation showing my improved music stand with its parts opened out and in position for use by themusician when playing,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the music stand as seen from the right of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a front elevational view taken from the same position as that of Figure 2, but showing the article when entirely retracted and closed, being then in the form of an article of luggage as viewed externally,

Figure 4 is a top plan view ofthe article shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken on plane 55 of Figure 3, and V Figure 6 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 2, opened out ready for use.

Figure 7 is an end elevation seen from the same viewpoint as Figure 1, and showing only a modified form of podium 50, with slidable end wing extensions, apart from the other structure.

In the work of the musician, it is necessary for him to support his music upon some sort of stand or platform so it may be easily followed while playing, but such stands have usually been quite flimsy and incapable of holding more than a few sheets of music withoutswaying or even collapsing, to the embarrassment of the musician, particularly when turning the pages of the music. Some attempts have been made to remedy this situation by making the stands quit heavy and bulky. This has had the disadvantage that such stands cannot be readily transported from place to place when the musician travels, without the need for use of expensive trucking or freight facilities and also the delays incident to such movement. a

Further, such stands have been of little practical value to the musician when traveling since they have had no means forstorage of articles used frequently, such as spare parts for instruments, sheet music itself, incidental toilet and shaving articles of personal nature, and clothing. My invention overcomes all these difliculties. My convertible music stand has the outward appearance of an article of luggage when all its parts are closed and retracted, and actually is usuable as such, since it has facilities not only to receive the music podium or platform and illumination source, but also the music, space parts of instruments, and toilet articles and garments, such as spare shirts, socks, neckties, and the like. In using my invention, the musician is well equipped both when playing and when traveling and does not have to procure or carry extra luggage fontrips of short .duration.

In order to understand clearly. the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, my improved combination: music.

stand utility case includes a main housing with a front wall formed of sheetamaterialsuchas metal, fibre board, laminated plywood, or other left and right side walls l2-and l3, also formed of sheet material and'lying in parallel planes which are perpendicularto that of the front wall Interconnecting the lower edges of the left and right side walls [2 and I3 isa bottom or floor-,member 26, which is also of sheet material andmaybe integral withthe front wall ifdesired, that is'totsay, asingle'piece of sheetmetal,

for. example, may be suitably-cut out and bent to formthe members'lllz, l3 and '26, the joints beingmade' in any manner well known in the art byspot welding or otherwise where the 'lower edgesoftheside walls I2 and [Sintersect with the,edges of theibottomrnember 26. Where the sheetmaterial is plywood or fiber board, then the joints maybe madein any wellknown manher, as by use of cornerangles-and the like.

A topmember 24 of sheet material, is hinged along'itslower edge as seen in Figure 1, by hinge 48, to the upper edge of the front wall I0, so that the member 24 may be elevated into a vertical plane as seen .in that view, or pivoted into its horizontal plane as seen in Figures 3 and 5, when the case is closed. When in the horizontal position of Figure 5, the topmember 24is brought intoialignment with the top edges 22 of the side walls 12 and I3, and its integral top flange 34 is brought down into, alignment-with the portions 38 of the vertical'edges of the side walls l2 and [3, that is torsay, .down as .far as the upper edges of the rear walls or doors l4 and 39' of the music stand;

These rear doors l4 and30, whichmay aptly be termed wings, are also formed of sheet material, and are hinged along their inner edges Hi to the-side walls 12 and J3 respectivelyof the main housing. It will be observed that the lower edges 23 of the sldewings l4 and are in the same plane as the bottom'memberlfi, and the hinge along the edge l6 permits the side wings l4 and 30 to be swung outwardly so that ,each'respectively is in the plane ofits contiguous side wall 12 or l3, as seen best-in-Figures l and 2, when in opened position. Similarly, the hinges (6 permit such sidewings M and :30.to'be swung edges l8 of these side wings areprovidedwith;

integral inturned edge flanges I9 as seen best in Figure 2, and a locking lug 2i projecting slightly out of one of these edge flanges is adapted to enter a matching recess 23 on the other edge flange when they are brought together in the closed position of Figure 3. The length of the lug 2i is somewhat exaggerated in Figure 3 only for clarity of illustration.

When in closed position as seen in Figures 3, Land 5, thetop member 24 is secured to the side wings I4 and;30 by 'means of locks, seen best in Figure 3. As shown, the left hand lock has its upper portion 62 carried on the depending wall 34 for engagement with the lower portion 68 of the lock. Similarly, on the right hand lock,

the upperportion 64 carried on the depending wall 34 is adapted to engage with the lower lock'ha'lfffifi. 'Ifhese locks of any suitable luggage loektype, are preferably of the sort that snap into locking engagement when brought together, being lockable further by insertion of the key into the cylinders I0 on each lo ck.

The wall 34-of the top member has 'depending flanges 36' along each edge as seen best'in Figure 1, so as to give added rigidity and strength, these flanges being preferablyreceivable inside the upper edgesof the side walls 12 and [-3 respectively, when in closed position. A music holder or podium'platform 50, also formed of sheet material is permanently hinged at 5| to the inner surface of the top member 24, as seen best in Figures 1 and-5, being adapted to "furnishsupport for the 'sheetmusic used byjthe musician during 'the playing thereof l' oreaseof use, and compactness when'travelmg, I have made the podium platform -inthree main portions; namely "the centralplanesurface 50 which itself is directly hinged to'themember .24 by .the'hinge 5|,'and two,extensiblepodium wings 58 and 60, also :formed of"sheet?n1aterial like that'of member 50'. These podium'wings158 and'fifl'may be secured upon'the underside of the central platform 50 as seen'in Figure 7, by riding in flanges 49 "formed. on theundersurface of the platform 58, according to .one preferred form of the invention, sothat theyrmay, be easilyslidably moved inwardly and. outwardlyas desiredlto increase the'area of the music platform,.the central portion extending only to the lines 53 and 55Irespectively. Or, if desired, instead of securing the extension members 58- and 60 slidably to the central member 50, they may also be hinged thereto alongthelinesfifi and 55 resp ectively, by means of hinges BI and .63 .asshowninFigure 6.

A stop member or lip 52 .havingan inturned upper flange '54, is secured to the loweredge of the central podium member 50 by means of the hinge 56, the hingebeing so arranged that the motion of the lip 52 is constrainedbetween its open position shown as perpendicular to the .plat- .form 50, in Figure 1, and its closed position.

swung right against the surface of theplatform 59 as seen in Figurefi; Thislip is made relatively large as shown, and it is thus seen .thatthe podium platform is quite sturdy and large enough tohold a complete library of sheet music for use as required.

A spring catch I04 is secured by rivet I06 to the inner surface of 'thefront wall! 0, as seen best in Figure 5, .toireceive andhold securely though lreleasably when desired, the .lower edge ofnthe podium platform 59 and the lip .52 v ioldedthereagainst, when in closed position. Thus theplatform is prevented from swinging about and there is no restriction on the spaceinsidethecase available for storing needed articles of the musicians.

plane as seen in Figure l, I place a pair of studs.

92 upon the inner surface of the member 24, by spot welding or riveting. Extension arms 86 are secured at their upper ends to each of these studs 92, and have elongated slots 88 formed in each arm. Pins 90 project inwardly from each of the side walls l2 and I3 of the main housing and are movable in said elongated slots 88, that is to say, the pivoting of the wall 24 between the vertical and horizontal positions causes relative travel of the pins 90 from one end of the slot to the other. At the location of the pin 90 shown in Figure 1, a small notch is formed in the upper edge of the slot 88, to receive the pin 90 when in this position. Hence when reaching this position, the pin 90 is received in this small notch and hence the wall 24 must remain in the vertical position until released by lifting slightly the lower end of the arm 85 to Withdraw the pin 90 from this small notch.

When in the position of Figures 1, 2 and 6, the podium platform 59 with its extensions 58 and 60, are supported upon the underlying edges of the side walls 12 and I3, as at 14, in Figure 1, and upon the underlying edges of the side wings l4 and 30 as at 16 in Figure 1, thus providing stable support therefor. An illuminating housing 49, made of light material such as sheet metal is secured in the position shown, to the undersides of the walls 24 and 34 of the top member. This housing All has a curved reflector 46 with brackets 44 extending outwardly from the housing to carry a fluorescent tubular light 42, to cast good illumi nation upon the podium platform and the music.

There is ample room inside the housing 40 to carry a ballast inductor and starting means for the fluorescent lights, but these are not shown since they are well known. An electric cord, not shown, plugs into any convenient receptacle to furnish power for the light.

It will be understood of coursethat I do not wish to be limited to the use of fluorescent lighting, although that is preferred because of the superior light cast thereby, and the lack of glare into the eyes of the musician. However, ordinary incandescent lamps or lamps having elongated filaments disposed in tubular envelopes, and having the outer appearance of fluorescent tubes, known as lumiline lamps, may also be employed.

Shelves [8 and 80, exending inwardly as seen in Figure 2 to the intersection line 79, are secured by means of flanges 8|, to the inner surfaces of the side wings I 4 and 30, and thus provide additional inside shelf space below the podium platform 50 in the event other articles or music are desired to be placed thereon when in use. These shelves are of sheet material and may be both rectangular as viewed in plan, their respective planes may be displaced below each other only by their thickness, so they may slightly overlap. For additional rigidity, the rearward edges of these shelves may have depending flanges Tl.

An inner cabinet may also be placed inside the main housing as seen best in Figures 2 and 5, to receive additional articles, including shaving articles, spare socks, shirts and the like of the musician for use when traveling. This cabinet may have a top wall 94, end wall 96, and side walls 95, its leftward face being exposed when the side wings l4 and 30 are swung outwards. It

' may also serve a dual purpose as an additional base for the music stand when the musician is standing in playing some high instrument such as a bass violin, and is then taken out and placed under the floor member 26 for this purpose.

The combination music stand-utility case may also be provided with a handle which may be preferably of the hinged type commonly em ployed in luggage, and fitting into a recess formed in the underside of the floor member 26, so as to be out of sight when in use. For use in displaying the name of the orchestra, the name of the musical production being rendered, or some other useful or ornamental indicia, shallow channel members may be secured along the face of the front wall ll] of the case, that is,-on its left surface as viewed in Figure 1. One such'channel may be secured to the surface near the bottom edge, and one upright channel near each side vertical edge of the front wall It], so that a display card may be inserted therein from. above with the desired name or other indicia shown thereon, this being easily removable or reversable to display its reverse side, or other names.

This combination music stand and utility case fills a real need for the musical profession, particularly those who must travel .from place to place for short engagements. It is quite attractive in appearance, and sturdy for rough wear. Further it has ample space inside when closed, to carry articles needed by the musician, including music, toilet articles and spare clothing. If desired, it may be enclosed in a cloth case when in closed position, which is itself closed by means of snap fasteners or slide zipper fasteners.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that various It will also be understood that an auxiliary light shield may be pivotally supported by the housing 40 in such manner as to permit the musician to block any incidence of the direct rays from the light 42 upon his eyes when playing. It is apparent that when the musician is standing, there will be no direct glare from the light 42 into his eyes. However, when he is sitting, then whether or not there will be glare will depend largely upon his actual height, and this will vary from musician to musician. For this purpose, I propose the use of an auxiliary light shield, formed of sheet metal, slightly curved and underlying the curved upper portion of the reflector 46 as seen best in Figure 1, the light shield being itself highly polished to reflect light downwardly upon the music, and pivotally arranged at each end so as to pivot about the axis of the light 42, with a friction fit at the pivots so it will remain in any adjusted position. This hood can then be adjusted to suit the individual musician, and will avoid direct glare into his eyes, while yet permitting a relatively strong light source 42 to be used.

It will also be understood that some of the parts of the combination stand and utility case may be formed of molded sheet plastic material, and further that several intersecting wall members may be molded integral with each other to form units, such, for example, as the bottom 26, front l0, and side walls I2 and [3, all molded integral with each other. Similarly, the top member 24 and flange 34 may be molded in one piece, and perhaps also the housing 40 for the reflector.

"msezfnew gplasticssiareq liht "in- 'weightmid "guite (1113831916iaznd'attractive.

I claim:

- An article of "-luggage; comprisinga'front;wal1, a left :sidexwall Lcarriedlbyasaid itrontwall, wright isidefwa'll carrmdabysaid front-walhafloor member zunderlying: said- Y'front, 'lef t a and- :right walls and engaging the same i to-de'fine; thereover a main .chamber; ;1eft:and right side" wings'engaging :the .free edges 'ofsa-id left and right side walls pivotally andaclapted when in closed positions to cooperate mutually to form a closedrearward wall of said-main chamber, and'adaptediwhenin extended .positions to form individuall extensions for ieachofsaid left and right side walls, a top memberpivotaily"engaging an upper edge :portion 'of :said front wall and. adapted whenain closed :position toaform a ceiling 'for'said main chamber, amusiczplatform hinged atone edge-to an innersurface of saidtop member and adapted,

when-said top member "is in extended position, to -extend therefrom w and be supported 7 in partly inclined position to displaymusic placed thereon, means carried {by said topmember for illuminating said music when on said extended music platform,- means-for lockingsaid'top memberin :bothropenfla'ndc closed; positions as desired, said .musicplatiormheing-so construetedzanri arran'g'ed relation to said s; top: member and saidimain chamber; that upon-movement of I said :top :mem- 'be'rfl-toclosed position saidmusiccnplatform is automatically retractable inside-saidmain cham- 'ber, releasable clamp meansinsidetsaid main PATRICK J. ,BOLLETTIERI.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in-the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

827,412 Bostelman July 31,1906 1,245,399 Thorsell ,Nov. 6,,1917 1,759,178 Weldon May 20, 1930 1,821,279 Sithens Sept. 1,,1931 2,329,029 Bargen Sept. 7, 1943 

